SUVA, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Tropical Cyclone Ella is expected to move closer to island nation Fiji from Thursday, according to reports from local weather office.
The centre of the category 1 cyclone is 615 km northeast of Vanuabalavu, Fuji's third largest island.
Fiji Meteorological Service senior forecaster Steven Meke said on Wednesday rain would begin to affect Fiji from Wednesday with the tropical cyclone currently located outside of Tonga.
The weather office expects the cyclone to affect the Northern Lau Group possibly on Friday.
A strong wind warning remains in force for Lau land areas with southeast winds 40 to 50 km per hour, gusting to 60 km per hour.
Fiji will experience occasional showers, heavy at times and few thunderstorms.
To date, Fiji is still recovering from the effects of the Tropical Cyclone Winston which tore down schools and homes and devastated plantations in 2016. It also killed 43 people.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji's minister for Finance, had put the cost of damage caused by Cyclone Winston at 460 million U.S. dollars.
